Public meet deliberates on co-existence
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 25 2015 : A public meeting on peaceful co-existence among different ethnic communities of Manipur was held today at T Ringpam village located under Machi Block of Chandel district under the aegis of M Ringpam Village Authority, Peace Foundation Committee (PFC), United People's Administrative Council (UPACO) and Thoubal District Women's Development Association.

JCILPS convenor Khomdram Ratan, PFC president Yaima Maring, former AMWJU president Bijoy Kakchingtabam and M Ringpam village chief Jampiyo Jajo attended the public meeting as presidium members.

Speaking at the gathering, Yaima Maring said that all the indigenous people should stop internal confrontations.

All the indigenous people need to stand united with a common vision and fight collectively the external agents/outsiders who have been sowing seeds of discord among different indigenous communities of the State.

For this very reason, people need to struggle further in order to get the three Bills passed by the Manipur Legislative Assembly for protection of indigenous people transformed into Acts, Yaima Maring asserted.

Jampiyo Jajo remarked that the age old bond of fraternity shared by the indigenous communities of Manipur is still very much alive although there were some isolated conflicts or confrontations due to misunderstandings.

He also underscored the need to enforce ILPS or a similar mechanism so as to protect indigenous people from the onslaught of influx.

Khomdram Ratan said that each and every indigenous community of Manipur took part in making today's Manipur.

The bond of fraternity shared among different communities is not something which was moulded in the recent past.

People of Manipur were seemingly segregated after a large section of people adopted Hinduism.

Then after Manipur came under British colonial rule, the hills and the valley were placed under separate administrations.

After the merger with the Indian Union, the campaign to create discord and animosity among the indigenous communities was intensified all the more, Ratan alleged.

Lasting peace would remain elusive until and unless there is no uniform development.

Peace and harmony can be realized when there is uniform development and mutual respect among each and every community.

Lack of development initiatives in the hill areas bred all kinds of notion inimical to the unity of the Nation.

Those elements who have been forfeiting the rightful shares of hill people should be identified and their nefarious activities should be checked immediately.

Any policy which is aimed at subjugation of smaller communities should be nipped in the bud.

It must be ensured that all the people are given equal rights and opportunities, Ratan asserted.

The movement to protect indigenous people is essential for it can guarantee the future of all indigenous people.

The movement has no agenda to infringe upon the rights and interests of the hill people, he added.

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